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"We still believe that in the current industry environment several good
investment opportunities exist within our lodging universe. The industry
is maintaining ADR growth at levels well above inflation (5.0% for the
fourth-quarter versus an inflation rate of 2.2%), further emphasizing the
industry's potential for record profits once again in 1998," said Jason
N. Ader, a senior managing director and senior lodging industry analyst
with Bear, Stearns Co. Inc. "Likewise, we saw impressive fourth-quarter
results from several of the lodging companies. Host Marriott (Buy), Promus,
Extended Stay America, and Prime Hospitality (all rated Attractive), Marriott
International (Neutral), as well as Starwood Hotels Resorts reported
significant improvements in operating margins in addition to solid year-over-year
RevPAR growth. Although this quarter did not clearly indicate favorable
supply and demand conditions in the upper end of the full-service sector,
we believe that strong demand growth and modest supply growth in the deluxe,
luxury, and upscale segments of the full-service sector - trends that we
think should continue for at least the next 18-24 months - bode well for
high-end full-service
lodging companies such as Host Marriott, Starwood, and Hilton Hotels.
RevPARs - and, ultimately, profits - can be expected to increase as operators
continue to exercise maximum pricing leverage. The rapid
growth in supply and continued strong absorption rates of new rooms
also indicate a positive operating outlook for development-oriented extended-stay
companies, especially those focused on midpriced properties in the lower-tier
segment. Our picks - Sunburst Hospitality (Buy) and Extended Stay America
- continue to rapidly develop new properties and experience quick absorption
rates (with new properties generally reaching stabilization in less than
one year). Occupancy rates remain high, and property-level margins continue
to hit the
55%-60% range."
Highlights from the report are outlined below.
Flip-flopping trends don't signal fundamental
change in macro environment
In a switch from previous quarters, supply growth exceeded demand growth
in the full-service sector while nearly equaling it in the limited-service
sector. In another first this quarter, demand growth outpaced supply growth
in the lower-tier extended-stay segment. Despite overall demand growth
surpassing supply growth by 80 basis points, RevPAR was up 4.2%, with full-service
leading the way at 5.5%.
Full service overbuilding fears overblown.
Pipeline statistics should dispel the notion of full-service overbuilding.
The number of projects in each full-service segment is still low relative
to existing supply. Moreover, market-by-market analysis shows wide national
dispersion of projects, with few markets having significant levels of multiple-project
development. Heavy construction activity continues in the midscale without
FB and lower-tier extended-stay segments.
Contstruction in Dallas, Atlanta, and Phoenix
heats up, while east and west coast simmer.
Dallas tops the construction markets with 8,134 rooms under construction,
followed by Atlanta (7,435 rooms),
Phoenix (7,335 rooms), Orlando (6,824 rooms), and Chicago (5,059 rooms).
Together, these five markets account for 19% of the total number of rooms
under construction. By contrast, construction activity in eight major East
and West Coast urban markets (Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington,
Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, and Los Angeles) totaled 16,987 rooms,
or only 8% of all rooms under construction.
Six brands report double digit revpar growth
in fourth quarter.
Ritz-Carlton (up 12.0%), Marriott (up 10.0%), and Doubletree (up 10.2%)
achieved the quarter's highest full-service RevPAR growth. Four Seasons,
reeling from Asia, had its RevPAR drop 0.7%. Limited-service
was led by AmeriSuites (up 10.3%) and Wellesley Inns (up 8.4%). Limited-service's
weakest performers were Fairfield (up 1.0%) and Red Roof Inns (up 3.3%).
The quarter's highest RevPAR increases came from newcomers Extended Stay
America (up 43%) and Hampton Inn Suites (up 19.1%), reflecting fast-growing,
rapidly stabilizing portfolios.
Own, manage, or franchise?
In this environment, most owners, managers, and franchisors of properties
in the deluxe, luxury, and upscale segment of the full-service sector should
prosper. With the exception of a few markets (notably Dallas/Ft. Worth,
Phoenix, and Atlanta) new supply posses little competitive threat to sustained
strong RevPAR growth for the foreseeable future. As such, full-service
managers and franchisors should continue to benefit from higher
franchise and base management fees. Moreover, RevPAR-driven increases
in property-EBITDA should continue to grow incentive management fees. Ownership
also remains attractive, as the leverage inherent in the
lodging industry translates stronger RevPAR growth into even strong
bottom line profits. The main risk to owners is that escalating asset prices
with crimp returns, could potentially impair the future earnings of acquisition-driven
companies.
The competitive environment in the limited-service sector requires a
more selective approach. Success in this sector is likely to be limited
to franchisors and managers who have limited capital exposure and who gain
more from incremental unit growth than they lose from RevPAR softness.
Alternatively, owner/operators of brands that are "category killers" in
their competitive segments still have upside potential in the limited-service
sector. "Category killers" are brands whose competitive characteristics
are so superior that they substantially outperform their brand segments.
Classic examples of this are Marriott's Courtyard in the midscale with
FB segment and
Prime's AmeriSuites in the midscale without FB segment.
Strong absorption of extended-stay rooms continues to indicate that
opportunities still exist in the sector. While the landscape is no longer
as wide open as it was 18 months ago, we believe that those companies with
a demonstrated ability to effectively manage a rapid development schedule
and who possess a wide geographic distribution of product, (specifically
in a wide variety of markets and submarkets with limited competition).
Alternatively, distribution that focuses on markets with little or no extended-stay
product is also a viable
strategy.
To request a copy of the Bear Stearns Supply Demand Chronicle, fourth-quarter edition, please call Noelle Whiting at (212) 272-4320.
Bear, Stearns Co. Inc., a leading worldwide investment banking
and securities trading and brokerage firm, is the major subsidiary of The
Bear Stearns Companies Inc. (NYSE: BSC). With approximately $14.8 billion
in total capital, Bear Stearns serves governments, corporations, institutions,
and individuals worldwide. The company's
business includes corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions, institutional
equities and fixed income sales and trading, private client services, derivatives,
asset management, correspondent clearing, securities lending, and custody
services. Headquartered in New York City, the company has approximately
8,700 employees located
in domestic offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles,and
San Francisco; and an international presence in Beijing, Buenos Aires,
Dublin, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Lugano, Paris, Sao Paulo, Shanghai,
Singapore, and Tokyo.
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